The Book: 2003 Football

<blockquote><p align=justify><b>Receiver accumulates numbers, memories with Cajuns</b>

LOUISIANA La. — Little things can add up to big results.

Fred Stamps will leave Louisiana as one of the finest receivers in school history, second only to Brandon Stokley in sheer numbers.

But the Carver High product will also leave behind an indelible impression as a player willing to work at his craft each day, a player who loved being on the football field.

“The most important thing I’ve done is just working hard,” said Stamps, who went out in style with an eye-catching 13-catch, 201-yard, 3-touchdown performance in the season finale at Middle Tennessee.

“I love to practice. Once you get warmed up, the coaches make it fun. I just love to play football. I’ve been playing it since I was 6 years old, and I’ve been catching the football since I was a little baby.”

Last summer, Stamps joined other receivers in working with UL quarterbacks against defensive backs to hone their craft, working on the details that would later make the Cajuns a better squad.

“Me and Jerry Babb would get out there every day in the summer, starting around 3 o’clock and sometimes going until 7,” Stamps said. “We were out there every day, trying to get better.”

Once the season began, Stamps served as the leader of the Cajun receiving corps as well as a security blanket for Babb, a redshirt freshman getting his first taste of the college game against a rugged schedule.

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In that way, Stamps is like former Cajun Marcus Carter, who was a senior when current Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme started at quarterback as a freshman in 1993. Delhomme always knew where Carter was, and knew he could count on him for big plays.

Babb, who started the season as No. 1 then yielded the spot to senior Eric Rekieta before Rekieta got injured, returned to direct a stretch run in which the Cajuns won four of their last five games to post a 4-8 finish.

The final step in that five-game period was last Saturday’s quadruple overtime 57-51 win at Middle Tennessee, a game that featured an 84-yard march to force overtime at 34-34 and several dramatic moments in the extra periods.

“It was fun, but it had you kind of nervous,” said Stamps, who had catches of 25 and 8 yards in the tying march, a 12-yard touchdown in the first overtime and OT grabs of 10, 4 and 9 yards to go with earlier TDs of 8 and 49 yards in regulation.

“It was the best game I ever had in my life. It was the kind of game that could be made into a movie.”

It was no accident that the Cajuns were able to rally despite seeing leads of 17-3 and 20-10 evaporate into a late 34-31 deficit with 2:47 to play. The 84-yard march took 10 plays, climaxed by Babb’s 2-yard scoring pass to Bill Sampy at :26.

“You’ve got to be able to finish what you start,” Stamps said. “We work hard in practice. That’s why we get up at 6 a.m. in the summer and work until 7 at night. We’re always working on the little things.”

“The seniors talk about the 6 a.m. breakfast clubs we had, and about finishing the job,” coach Ricky Bustle said. “That was as fine a finishing drive as I’ve ever seen.”

Importantly, 2003 was the first time a Cajun team had won four games since the 1996 Cajuns upset Texas A&M and went 5-6.

“That’s the most wins we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Stamps said. “Before, we’d win two or three games every year. I feel like we broke a curse, or something.”

The finishing kick also provides momentum for the offseason and the 2004 campaign to follow.

“They can come back and have a lot to be excited about,” Stamps said of his younger teammates. “Jerry will be back, and we’ve got good receivers and running backs.”

Asked where the next Fred Stamps was on the roster, he smiled and said, “We have a lot of good receivers. I hope next year they all step up.”

Bustle was only half kidding this week when he said he’d like to find another year of eligibility for Stamps, knowing it’s time for him to move on.

“I’m a Ragin’ Cajun for life, and I will miss playing football here,” said Stamps, who expects to follow 2003 Cajun defensive back draftees Charles Tillman and Ivan Taylor into the NFL.

“I’d love to go against Tillman and Ivan,” Stamps said. “They’re the best I’ve ever played against. If it (the NFL) doesn’t work out, I’ll still graduate next fall.”

Stamps should get at least get a chance to catch on as a slot receiver in the NFL.

“I’ll take a week and a half off,” Stamps said. “We’ve played 12 weeks straight, and it’s kind of hard. I’ll take my finals and relax, and then get back to workouts.

“It would be lovely to be chosen for one of the all-star games, to strap it up again in college football. I’d love to wear the helmet again.”

Few have worn the Vermilion and White better.
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.~. "I’m a Ragin’ Cajun for life" .~.

I hope Freddie 'blows up' big time in the NFL!

good luck Freddie, God speed i know you can do it, we will be watching. "GEAUX CAJUNS."

"It was the best game I ever had in my life. It was the kind of game that could be made into a movie."

I love Fred Stamps, a REAL Ragin' Cajun.

It was the best game I have watched in a long time. I look forward to seeing Fred & Ross on Sunday next year.

God Bless Fred Stamps and the Cajuns. Stamps is the MAN.

He said he hopes to be selected for an all-star game and mentioned nothing of showcasing his talents (though that is clearly a benefit that he must be interested in). He said he wants to put on his Ragin Cajun helmet again. That's just outstanding. I can't find the words. This sounds like a guy that will always support and be involved with this program. He even recognized the importance of that win against MTSU. Clearly cares about the future of the program and the men he leaves behind.

You can't have too many people like Fred Stamps in your program! Hope they can find some more just like him. He has the type of attitude and leadership we really need to see continue. I wish that young man all the success in the world. You can bet I'll be following his career and cheering him on no matter which team he ends up on.

Go Fred!!!!
Geaux Ragin' Cajuns !!!!!

Hah:) I went looking at this weeks poll no one had as good a week as Stamps.

<b>Final Sunbelt rankings</b><p>
6th in rushing 1398
5th in total yards 335.5
5th in passing 2628
5th in 1st downs 17.9
4th in 3rd down percentage 37.5
3rd in 3rd downs made 72
3rd in 4th down percentage 55.0
3rd in fewest penalty yards 717
3rd in scoring 22.2
2nd in 4th downs made 11
2nd in fewest penalties 83
2nd in time of possession 30:40

2nd in the W/L catagory

<blockquote><p align=justify><b>Can't run with the big dogs with only two legs</b>

There is a long-standing argument among football fans in Louisiana about where their favorite college football team belongs in the status of collegiate sports.

I'm here to tell you that I have a solution for all the questions that you have pondered all season long.

Although you may disagree with me, I think there should only be three Louisiana universities playing Division I-A football. Those being LSU, Tulane and Louisiana Tech. When it comes to the rest of the colleges, it's time to call 'em like I see 'em.

I am all for getting the big payday when taking a beating from the likes of LSU, Auburn or Miami, but for pete's sake, will Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana-Monroe please go back down to Division I-AA where you belong.

Louisiana is not large enough to handle five Division I-A programs, and frankly, neither of those teams has proven it belongs in the big time. In fact, since they have moved up to football highest competitive level, the fans have been robbed of good football games. Who the heck wants to see UL-Lafayette being pounded by mediocre Division I-A teams? I don't.

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Imagine how the alumni feel.

UL-Monroe is awful as a Division I-A program. All they've done since leaving I-AA is pad the bank account and drive the fans away in droves.

Remember when state rivalries meant something? I want the days of McNeese and the Ragin' Cajuns meeting once a year back. I can recall as a kid attending the game and being blown away by the enthusiasm built for the rivalry and the hatred spewed toward each team by the visiting fans.

It was classic baby.

Louisiana Tech and Northwestern State once played a State Fair Classic in Shreveport and was it every popular with football fans in this area and in Ruston.

As an alumnus, or just a casual fan, would you rather see the Cajuns play McNeese or North Texas? Would you rather see UL-Monroe be pummeled by Auburn or battle against Tech -- one of the most fierce rivalries in football history.

It's really not a good situation that those historical battles don't take place any longer. I mean how excited can Tech fans be about playing Boise State in a conference rivalry? Do you think Cajun fans really get fired up for a matchup against some college nobody has ever heard of?

University athletic departments have become too involved in making money, instead of doing what's right for the student-athlete and alumni. No matter how badly UL-Lafayette wants to be "the Louisiana university," it won't happen. It won't happen for ULM and it won't happen for Tech.

Louisiana is only large enough for one major university in football ... and LSU has flourished. Tech and Tulane have gained respect and should remain in the large division. But I think UL-Lafayette and UL-Monroe should re-join the Southland Conference in Division I-AA.

That's where those teams belong and where they would actually compete. I don't know how good the Cajuns are doing by winning one or two games every season. You would think after 10 or 15 years of losing, they would get the hint.

Like my old grandpappy used to say, you can't dress your dog up in a dress and heels and make her Homecoming Queen. Someone will find out.

You cannot make a Division I-A team out of I-AA talent every year.

To you ... university presidents -- less is more. Rewind the clocks baby and let's get this state rivalry thing going again. I know as a sports writer and a football fan, I would love it.

Take a hint from McNeese, a big fish in a small pond ain't so bad.
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What a goober.

Instead of worrying about how great LSU is, and the McNeese rivalry, maybe he should think about what kind of an alternative UL provides. We give talented kids a shot at playing D-1A football that probably wouldn't be able to make it at a school like LSU that gets blue chippers every recruiting season. And given, we've been more or less pretty bad the past few years, but nobody can take away the strong finish we had this season. Strong enough to finish 2nd in the conference. I know, 2nd place is just 1st place loser, but it's a step up from perenially being at the bottom of the conference. Fact is that UL is getting stronger every season under Bustle. We seem to be off to a good recruiting class right now and, ask me again at this time next offseason, and I'll tell you that I think we're ready to compete with the Tulanes and the Louisiana Techs and even the USMs of college football.